Electric clock-setting means



Feb. 19,1924;

ELECTRIC CLOCK SETTING MEANS Original filed March 22 1916 Patented Feb.19, 1924.

UNITED STATES isten PATENT-OFFICE.

FRANK J. SEABOLT, OF SCHENEOTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH '10ED- WARD F. PICKFORD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA; ONE-FOURTH TOi MABLE E. HALL AND ONE THIRTY-SECOND TO CHARLES D. KNIGHT, BOTH OFSCHENECTADY, NEW YORK. 1

ELECTRIC CLOCK-SETTING MEANS.

Application filed larch '22, 1918, Serial No. 85,776. Renewed Kay 11,1921. Serial No. 468,725.

To all whom it 72mg concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. SEABOLT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElectricClock-Setting Means, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrically controlled clocks or the like, andhas for its object the provision of means whereby devices of thisgeneral character are automatically set from a remote point in a simpleand reliable manner.

My invention relates more specifically to the control of clocks or thelike which are connected to electric light or powercircuits, one of theobjects of my invention being to provide means whereby such a clock orany number of such clocks may be automatically set from a remote pointby temporarily changing the condition of the circuit, as for instance,by opening the circuit or dropping the voltage for an instant.

My invention is particular-l applicable to clocks which are automatica lwound at intervals from an electric lighting circuit. In my previousapplication Serial No. 809, 849, filed J anuar Y 2nd, 1914, I havedescribed and broad y claimed a clock mechanism provided with meanswhereby upon an instantaneous change in the circuit such as a drop inthe voltage, or opening of the circuit, the clock hands will be set. Inthe par ticular embodiment of m invention disclosed in said application,1 employ a device which sets the hands of the clock as it movesinresponse to a bias or spring-tension, the spring or other biasing meansbeing put under strain or tension during the winding operation.- Thissetting device is held un-' 'der tension by an electromagnet connectelto a lighting circuit so that when the circuit is manipulated to eitherpartially or totally deenergize the magnet, the device will be releasedand the hands set. It is intended that a large number of clocks will beconnected to the lighting circuit so that by dropping the volta e'orinterrupting the circuit at the power ouse, or central station all theclocks, connected to the circuit will be automatically set.

My present invention is an'improvement in certain respects upon thedisclosure of my previous application. These improvements comprise asimplification of the setting device proper, whereby the setting memberin the position in which it is held against its bias by a magnet doesnot interfere with the hands. A V-shaped member is attached to theminute hand and the setting member when released engages it and sets thehands. As shown the setting member is provided with a pin which passesthrough the V-shaped member in moving'in response to its bias, thearrangement being such that the pin will yield so as not to interferewhen it is moved in the opposite direction. I have i also simplified themeans for moving the setting member by providing an element pivoted to arotating member so that the ele ment engages the setting member if thelatter is in its normal position and then drops to an inoperativeposition in which it will not interfere with the return of the settingmember. I also provide means whereby in case the circuit is notmanipulated to operate the setting device, the circuit of the holdingmagnet will be automatically opened after a predetermined timeto releasethe setting device. This occurs, however, after sufficient length oftime so that it does not interfere with the hands. Another feature of myinvention is the provision of means w ereby if the clock mechanismshould become inoperative, it can be removed from the case with almostas much ease as a burned out lamp can be removed from its socket. Thecase is simply opened, the clockmechanism pulled out of clips and a newmechanism inserted in its place. Other ob jects and pur oses of myinvention will a pearfrom t e following specification in which I haveshown one embodiment thereof for purposes of illustration.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating one form 0 my invention, Fig. lis-a view of a clock embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a diagrammaticview showing circuit connections; Fig. 3 is a detail view of the settingmechanism; Fig, 4 shows the arrangement of the case with detachableclock mechanism and Fig. 5 shows a number, of clocks connected with thelighting circult.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, it will .be seen that I haveillustrated an electrically wound clock of the type shown and describedin the application above referred to. In order, however, that a thoroughunderstanding of my invention may be had, I shall, explain the wholeclock mechanism in detail.

In Figs. 1 and 2, therefore, M indicates an electric motor having anarmature A. and a series field F which winds the clock sprin (notshown); The spring has its inner en secured to the shaft 10 and is woundby turning this shaft by means of a pinion 11, gearing l2 and main gear13 secured to shaft 10. The outer end of the spring is secured to thespring drum (not shown) in the weE known manner. The rotation of themotor will therefore rotate the shaft 10 and wind the clock spring andas the clock runs down the spring drum will of course rotate andtransmit its power to the clock mechanism in a manner well understood.In order to control the motor circuit 10 and the other by the springdrum. The

member which is secured to the spring drum consists of a flat disk 14 ofinsulating material upon which is mounted the disk 15 of metal, such asbrass. This metallic disk is cut away to receive the plate 16 ofinsulating material. This plate is segmental in shape and is provided atits outer edge where.

it joins the metal disk with a rib or flange 17. This segmental late isso arranged with reference to the disk and the shaft 10 that the rib 17is eccentric with reference to the shaft. The main body of the plate 16is flush -face of the'other conducting member and is yieldingly held incontact therewith. This finger is likewise adjacent the rib 17 so that,it will be deflected by the rib as the contacting members rotate withreference to each other. By referring to Fig. 2, the operation of thetwo contacting members will be clearly understood. Assuming that thefinger 21 is in the position shown, the spring has just been wound andthe finger has sna ped over the edge of the rib 17 and opened the motorcircuit. 'As the spring runs down, the finger will ride around on theinside of the rib by the rotation of the spring drum and since the ribis eccentric, the finger will be' plac'ed under tension. When the fingerreaches the end of the rib it will snap over the end of the rib acrossthe flush surface 19 into enga ement with the conducting surface of-theisk 15. If the motor now operates it will rotate the gear 13 which willrotate the shaft 10 and wind the spring and will turn the finger in thesame direction that the rib was rotated, viz., a clockwise direction,thereby causingthe finger 21 to slide around the outside of the rib andbe placed under tension as before until it snaps over the end ofthe'irib, across the flush surface 19 to its initial position and opensthe motor circuit. The spring has thus been wound up exactly the amountit has run down. If, however, when the finger snaps over across theflush surface 18 into engagement with the conducting surface of thedisk, there is no current or the motor circuit is open at another point(as hereinafter described), then the finger will continue to rotate incontact with the disk so as to give a period during which the spring mayat any time be wound if current is supplied, and

in order to positively stop the clock after a predetermined movement, Iprovide the stop element 22.

In order that the winding shall occur at a predetermined time of day andoccur every day at the same time, I provide another switch independentof the contacting mechianism but in series therewith, which must beclosed before the motor can be energized.

This switch is controlled by the position of the hands of the clock. Tothis end the hour hand arbor, which of course moves proportionately tothe'minute hand, is rovlded with a gear 23 whichmeshes wit a gear 24having twice as many teeth as gear 23 so that the gear 24 will berotated once in twenty-four hours.

Secured to the gear 24 is a cam shaped member 25 preferably of insulatedmaterial which is. ada ted to be engaged by spring contact 26.ooperating with this contact 26 is a spring contact 27, the arrangementbein such that these two contacts 26 and 27 wi l'-make or break circuitdepending upon adjusted with reference to the gear. on

which it is mounted by a key which may be inserted in the socket 29. Bythis means the 1 time at which. the contacts engage and hence the timeat which the winding occursma be adjusted. With this arrangement theclock will be automatically wound every day when the hands of the clockreach a predetermined position, i. e. at a predetermined time.

In order to set the hands of the clock every do. and set all the clockswhich are connecte to the circuit, I provide an arrangement shown in.detail in Figs. 2. and 3. This consists of a setting member 30 which isspring pressed to a downward position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1and is moved a ainst the bias or sprin tension as the c ock is beingwound. oo eratin with this setting member is a V- aped e ement 31 whichas shown is mounted upon the minute hand arbor of the clock. This V-shaped element is so shaped that a in 32 mounted upon the setting memberwi 1 pass through the V-shaped element from its wide to its narrow endand in so doing will set the clock hand. As shown the pin 32 is arrangedto yield in one direction against the tension of the sprin 33 so that inthe u ward movementof t e setting member t e pin will not interfere withor be, interfered with by the V-shaped element, As the setting membermoves downward, however, the pins 34 and 35 engage so that'the in actsas a unit with the remainder of t e setting member.

The setting member is moved a ainst its bias to its upper position inwhich it has the potential energy to set the hands by means of anelement 36 in'the shape of a pawl piv oted to a gear 37 geared to themain winding gear 13. During the windi o ration this gear 37 will berotated an t e pawl which will be resting against the pin 38 will bemoved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. At thi's'point,the

setting member being down, the pawl will engage a finger 39 connectedwith the setting member and raise'it from the position shown in thedotted lines to the shown in full lines in Fig. 2. en the member hasbeenraised the pawl will drop over by gravity to an inoperative positionso that it will not interfere with the dropping of the setting member.The gear 37 may be revolved further after setting the arm, but withoutthe awl getting in the way of the setting mem r, since each time itreaches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2 it will drop over to aninoperative'position as will be clearly understood from the drawin orderto hold the setti arm in its raised position, I rovlde the e ectroma 41.The circuit 0 this magnet is contro led 4 by contacts 42 which arenormally spring ressed together but are pressed apart by a ug 43 on thesetting arm when the latter" drops. The magnet 41 is provided with anarmature 44pivoted to the magnet frame at 45. A link 46 connects thisarmature with the setting arm. This link is pivoted to the armature at47 and to the setting arm at 48. By a suitable adjustment of the pivotedpoints 45,47 and 48, the initial tendency of sition net may be reducedto a very low value.

In other words, these pivot points may be so nearly aligned that thecomponent force tending to move the armature away from its magnet may bemade very small. As the armature moves away from the magnet however,this increases very rapidly. With this arrangement a very smallmagnetmay be employed to hold the setting arm although the latter may have avery considerable spring tension upon it. The circuit of this ma net isalso controlled by the contacts 26 an 27 so that the magnet cannot beenergized until the hands reach a predetermined position, but even afterthe contacts 26 and 27 are closed, the magnet will not be ener izeduntil the setting arm is moved up war to allow the contacts 42 to close.When the setting arm is released itdeenergizesthe magnet as it drops.

In Fi .'4 I. have shown the arrangement of the c ock mechanism in thecase. From ment being such that by simply pulling out the clockmechanism all the circuit connections are automatically broken and whena clock mechanism is put in the circuit connections are restored. Withthis arrangement if anythin should happen to the clockmechanism it willbe unnecessary for the attendant to attempt to make any repairs. Hesimply 0 us the case, pulls out the mechanism an puts in another onewith almost as much ease as he would remove a. lamp.

. The mode of operation of my clock setting arrangement will now beapparent. The clocks may of course be set at any time. but as shown .inthe drawing, they. will be set at six oclock. The winding operationoperation will take but a few seconds sothat the hand setting devicewill be in the position shown in Fig. 2 three orfour minutes before six.This will allow for the clock bein three or four minutes slow, althougha c ock; that is wound and set every day would not run off as much asthat. At the appointed time the circuit will be mani ulated at the powerhouse to drop the v0 tags or interrupt the circuit and the settingmember 30 will drop and set the hands. If through accident or mistakethe circuit" should not be manipulated, the magnet will 95 53 on theclock mechanism, the arrangebe deenergized after a short time by' reasonof the projection 28 on the cam 25 opening the contacts 26 and 27. Atthis time, however, the V-shaped member 31 has'passed beyond the rangeof the settin member so that the hands will not be a fected. With'thisarrangement any number of clocks will be automatically 'wound and setfrom a central point by simply connecting theclocks to the lightingcircuit in the same way that a lamp is connwted, provided of course thatthe volta e is lowered or the circuit interrupted at t e proper time. Ihave found that with the arrangement shown, the lowering of the-voltagefrom 115 to 85 or 90 volts will accomplish the setting and if the lightsshould be on at the time of the setting they would scarcely flicker.

While I have described my invention as embodied in concrete form and asoperating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of thepatent statutes, it should be understood that I do not limit myinvention thereto, since various modifications thereof will suggestthemselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spiritof my invention, the scope of which is set forth inthe annexed claims.

What 'I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

- ber-upon' its release as it returns to itsnormal sition.-

2. e combination with a clock mechanism of means for setting the samecomprising a member associated with the hands of the clock, a settinmember normally in a predetermined position and biased thereto,

' and electro-magnetic means for moving the -same against the bias toa'positi'on in which Fit will not interfere with the clock hands I whenthe latter reach a predetermined position whereby the setting memberupon its release engages the member associated with the hands and setsthe clock hands.

3. The combination with a clock mechanism of means for setting the samecomprising a V-sha member associated with the hands of the clock, asetting member nor-- the bias, whereby the settin member u 11.

its release enga es the V-s aped mem r and sets the hen 4. Thecombination with a clock mechaprising a Vsha against its bias at apredetermined time as indicated by the hands of the clock, an elecing asetting member biased to a predeternism, of means for setting thesame-.com-

(1 member associated with the hands of t e clock, a setting memberbiased to a predetermined position and means for moving the setting'memberf" against the bias at a predetermined time as indicated by thehands of the clock whereby a portion of the setting member upon therelease of the latter passes through the V- shaped member and sets thehands. a

5. The combination with a clock mechanism-of means for setting the samecomprising a setting member biased to a predetermined position andelectromagnetically controlled means for moving said member against itsbias, comprising a pivoted element which en ages. the setting memberwhen the latter is in its redetermined position and moves it a inst itsbias, said element afterward movmgto an inoperative position in which itwill not be engaged by the member as the latter moves in response to itsbias. I

6. The combination with a clock mechanism of means for setting the samecomprising a setting member biased to a predetermmed position, and meansfor moving said member against its bias comprising a rotating member, anelement pivoted thereto which' engages" the setting member when thelatter is in its predetermined position and moves it against its bias,said element afterward turnmgon its pivot to an inoperative position inwhich it will not be engaged by the member as the latter moves inresponse to the bias.

7. The combination with a clock mechanism of means for settin the'samecomprising a setting member biased to a predetermined position, andmeans for moving said member against its bias comprisin a rotatingmember, an element p1vote thereto,

and normally in such position as not to be engagedby' the member whenthe latter moves in response to 'its bias, said element during itsrotation engaging the member in its normal position to move it againstits bias and then assuming its normal position. 8. The combination witha clock mechanism, of means for setting the same comprising a settingmember biased to a predetermined position, means whereby the member setsthe hands in moving to said position, means for moving the membertromagnet for holding the setting member against the bias until it isreleased to set. the hands and means for deene'rgizing sald magnet torelease the member without setting the hands in case it has not beenprevi ously released to set the hands.

9. The combination with a clock mechanism, of means for setting the samecomprismined position, means whereby the member sets the hands in movingto said position, means for moving the member against its bias at apredetermined time as indicated by the hands of the clock, anelectromagnet having its circuit controlled by the said member forholding the member against the bias until it is released to set thehands and means for deenergizing said magnet to release the memberwithout setting the hands in case it has not been previously released toset the hands.

10. The (OlllblllflilOIl with the hands of a clock, of means for settingthe same comprising an element associated with the minute hand, a memberbiased to a predetermined normal position having a portion cooperatingwith said element to set the hand, means for moving the member againstthe bias when the minute hand reaches a predetermined position and meansfor holding it in said position whereby when the. member is released theco-operating parts engage in a continuous movement to set the hand.

11. The combination with the hands of a clock, of means for setting thesame comprising a minute hand arbor and a member biased to apredetermined normal position, a V shaped member associated with one ofsaid parts and a (o-operating element associated with the other, meansfor moving the member against its bias when the minare hand reaches apredetermined position, and means for holding it in said positionwherebywhen the member is released the element passes through the Vshaped member with a continuous movement and sets the hand.

12. The combination with the hands of a clock, of means for setting thesame com prising a movable member biased to a predetermined normalposition, means for moving the member against the bias to a secondposition when the minute hand reaches a predetermined position,electromagnetically controlled means for holding the member in itssecond position and means whereby when the member is releaseda portionthereof which is stationary with reference to the member operates thehand to set the same.

13. The combination with the hands of a clock, of means for setting thesame comprising a movable member biased to a predetermined normalposition, electromagnetically controlled means for moving the memberagainst the bias to a second position, means for holding the member inits second position and means whereby .when the member is released aportion thereof which is stationary with reference to the memberoperates the hand to set the same.

14. The combination with the hands of a clock, of means for setting thesame comprising a movable member biased to a predetermined position andhaving a portion which yields with reference to the remainder of themember when engaged during movement of the member against its bias,means for movingvthe member against its bias to a second position, meansfor holding the member in its second position and means whereby when themember is released the said portion thereof which is then stationarywith reference to the member operates the hand to set the same.

15. The combination with a clock, of means for setting the samecomprising a setting member spring pressed to a predetermined positionhaving an armature connected there-with, means whereby the member setsthe hands in moving to said position, means for moving the member to asecond position against the spring tension. an electromagnet cooperatingwith the armature to hold the member in the second position, and meanswhereby the force of the spring tending to move the armature away .fromthe electromagnet is decreased as the armature approachesthejelectromagnet. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this20th day of March 1916.

FRANK J. SEABOLT.

